Red braised orc
@orcma.bsky.social
I love the Economy and you can too
Reviewing candidate responses to the Alexandria YIMBY questionnaire and I am pleased to report that we are winning.
February 16, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Reviewing candidate responses to the Alexandria YIMBY questionnaire and I am pleased to report that we are winning.
Reposted by Red braised orc
we do love our woke cia girlboss
This is a nice move in an interview www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/u...
February 16, 2026 at 8:35 PM
we do love our woke cia girlboss
Reposted by Red braised orc
Yes!
Other great presidents?
Katharine Abraham of the American Economics Association, former BLS Commissioner
Other great presidents?
Katharine Abraham of the American Economics Association, former BLS Commissioner
February 16, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Yes!
Other great presidents?
Katharine Abraham of the American Economics Association, former BLS Commissioner
Other great presidents?
Katharine Abraham of the American Economics Association, former BLS Commissioner
Reposted by Red braised orc
New @nberpubs: "The Macroeconomic Effects of Tariffs: Evidence From U.S. Historical Data" www.nber.org/papers/w34852
"Tariff increases are contractionary: imports fall sharply, exports decline with a lag, and output and manufacturing activity drop persistently." 😲
"Tariff increases are contractionary: imports fall sharply, exports decline with a lag, and output and manufacturing activity drop persistently." 😲
February 16, 2026 at 4:21 PM
New @nberpubs: "The Macroeconomic Effects of Tariffs: Evidence From U.S. Historical Data" www.nber.org/papers/w34852
"Tariff increases are contractionary: imports fall sharply, exports decline with a lag, and output and manufacturing activity drop persistently." 😲
"Tariff increases are contractionary: imports fall sharply, exports decline with a lag, and output and manufacturing activity drop persistently." 😲
Good explainer for people like me that have never understood the Fed’s balance sheet
February 16, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Good explainer for people like me that have never understood the Fed’s balance sheet
Reposted by Red braised orc
something i'd like to see before i die, although i don't expect it — but it would be cool! — is April 9 becoming a national holiday
February 14, 2026 at 11:57 PM
something i'd like to see before i die, although i don't expect it — but it would be cool! — is April 9 becoming a national holiday
Reposted by Red braised orc
Happy valentine's day ❤️
February 15, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Happy valentine's day ❤️
Reposted by Red braised orc
The thing to understand is that we are in this mess because a great deal of this country refused to believe Trump tried to commit an insurrection, despite it being televised.
hello and welcome to the political genius exam. here is question one. which is a more compelling message:
- the president is sending armies to occupy cities and kidnap and kill people and your town could be next
- a meal at the cheesecake factory that previously cost $100 now costs $104.9
- the president is sending armies to occupy cities and kidnap and kill people and your town could be next
- a meal at the cheesecake factory that previously cost $100 now costs $104.9
Romance alert: Trump's reckless tariffs have Valentine’s Day costs up across the board:
Roses 🌹16.6%
Chocolates🍫 18.7%
Ribeye 🥩 25.4%
Restaurant meals 🍽️ 4.9%
Roses 🌹16.6%
Chocolates🍫 18.7%
Ribeye 🥩 25.4%
Restaurant meals 🍽️ 4.9%
February 15, 2026 at 12:14 AM
The thing to understand is that we are in this mess because a great deal of this country refused to believe Trump tried to commit an insurrection, despite it being televised.
What a travesty. Two of my Alma maters on this list of exceptional colleges (including one I did a year of ROTC at).
Hegseth to US military: if you get into MIT, we won't let you attend because of the risk that you will be exposed to ideas hostile to MAGA when you study there.
February 14, 2026 at 10:15 PM
What a travesty. Two of my Alma maters on this list of exceptional colleges (including one I did a year of ROTC at).
Reposted by Red braised orc
“In less than a year, DHS has attacked the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 14th amendments to the US Constitution, the writ of habeas corpus, the independent judiciary, and much more,” states David Bier before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.
Read full testimony: https://ow.ly/z2aT50Yfcri
Read full testimony: https://ow.ly/z2aT50Yfcri
February 13, 2026 at 8:03 PM
“In less than a year, DHS has attacked the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 14th amendments to the US Constitution, the writ of habeas corpus, the independent judiciary, and much more,” states David Bier before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.
Read full testimony: https://ow.ly/z2aT50Yfcri
Read full testimony: https://ow.ly/z2aT50Yfcri
👀
MERZ SAYS SAYS U.S. CLAIM TO LEADERSHIP IS DISPUTED, PERHAPS SQUANDERED
February 13, 2026 at 1:01 PM
👀
Reposted by Red braised orc
After housing, this is the next big zoning reform: the right to do business. Always found it odd that the USA, supposedly the land of the free market, makes it the hard if not outright illegal to open a business in most places.
Like many other planning failures, this one's also rooted in racism.
Like many other planning failures, this one's also rooted in racism.
The al pastor taco truck at sleepy North Berkeley BART is booming every night with neighbors, cyclists and families. Imagine what we could do with fully legalized street vending citywide.
February 13, 2026 at 2:52 AM
After housing, this is the next big zoning reform: the right to do business. Always found it odd that the USA, supposedly the land of the free market, makes it the hard if not outright illegal to open a business in most places.
Like many other planning failures, this one's also rooted in racism.
Like many other planning failures, this one's also rooted in racism.
Reposted by Red braised orc
Fun fact I just noticed: The U.S. had about half as much total job growth in 2025 (total) as during an average *month* during the Biden administration.
181k net jobs added over the entire course of 2025, versus average of 329k each month from 2021-2024.
181k net jobs added over the entire course of 2025, versus average of 329k each month from 2021-2024.
February 12, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Fun fact I just noticed: The U.S. had about half as much total job growth in 2025 (total) as during an average *month* during the Biden administration.
181k net jobs added over the entire course of 2025, versus average of 329k each month from 2021-2024.
181k net jobs added over the entire course of 2025, versus average of 329k each month from 2021-2024.
Would be funny if it weren’t so sad
“I had high hopes and low expectations that the FDA under the new administration would be less paternalistic and more open to medical freedom.”
“I had high hopes and low expectations that the FDA under the new administration would be less paternalistic and more open to medical freedom.”
I Regret to Inform You that the FDA is FDAing Again - Marginal REVOLUTION
I had high hopes and low expectations that the FDA under the new administration would be less paternalistic and more open to medical freedom. Instead, what we are getting is paternalism with different...
marginalrevolution.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Would be funny if it weren’t so sad
“I had high hopes and low expectations that the FDA under the new administration would be less paternalistic and more open to medical freedom.”
“I had high hopes and low expectations that the FDA under the new administration would be less paternalistic and more open to medical freedom.”
Reposted by Red braised orc
Who is paying the tariff tab? New York Fed economists: Using import data through November 2025, we find that nearly 90% of the tariffs’ economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers. libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2026/02/who-...
Who Is Paying for the 2025 U.S. Tariffs? - Liberty Street Economics
Over the course of 2025, the average tariff rate on U.S. imports increased from 2.6 to 13 percent. In this blog post, we ask how much of the tariffs were paid by the U.S., using import data through No...
libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org
February 12, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Who is paying the tariff tab? New York Fed economists: Using import data through November 2025, we find that nearly 90% of the tariffs’ economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers. libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2026/02/who-...
Reposted by Red braised orc
Reposted by Red braised orc
A reminder that thanks to the no good terrible very bad Supreme Court decision in INS v. Chadha, this is subject to a veto. He'll be annoyed by having to veto it, that's what they were trying to avoid. But even if both houses pass it, that's what will happen.
PASSED: the House just passed the resolution to end Trump's tariffs on Canada.
Not many crosses from Republicans, a lot of vulnerable incumbents took a dumb vote here to stick with Trump and GOP leadership. Goes to the Senate, which is likely to pass it.
Will share the vote sheet when I have it!
Not many crosses from Republicans, a lot of vulnerable incumbents took a dumb vote here to stick with Trump and GOP leadership. Goes to the Senate, which is likely to pass it.
Will share the vote sheet when I have it!
February 11, 2026 at 11:27 PM
A reminder that thanks to the no good terrible very bad Supreme Court decision in INS v. Chadha, this is subject to a veto. He'll be annoyed by having to veto it, that's what they were trying to avoid. But even if both houses pass it, that's what will happen.
Reposted by Red braised orc
RFK Jr/MAHA world say they're not reducing access to vaccines for anyone who wants them, only giving people "choice" to opt out.
But by refusing to even review new vaccines, yes, they are absolutely blocking those who want a new immunization from ever having access to it.
But by refusing to even review new vaccines, yes, they are absolutely blocking those who want a new immunization from ever having access to it.
Top FDA official Vinay Prasad overruled the agency’s reviewers--career scientists--when he refused to accept Moderna’s application for a new influenza vaccine www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
Prasad overruled FDA staff to reject Moderna's flu vaccine application
The rejection is the latest instance of Vinay Prasad overruling career FDA scientists to place vaccines under harsher scrutiny.
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:54 PM
RFK Jr/MAHA world say they're not reducing access to vaccines for anyone who wants them, only giving people "choice" to opt out.
But by refusing to even review new vaccines, yes, they are absolutely blocking those who want a new immunization from ever having access to it.
But by refusing to even review new vaccines, yes, they are absolutely blocking those who want a new immunization from ever having access to it.
Reposted by Red braised orc
What
The car was removed from the tracks around 1:30 p.m. & normal service has resumed! Our Intrusion Detection Warning system did its job by alerting our command center of a fence breach & obstruction. Thank you to Fairfax County Fire/Rescue for their assistance!
February 11, 2026 at 7:49 PM
What
Great things are happening under Interim Commissioner of Internal Revenue Scott Bessent.
🚨 SCOOP: The IRS improperly disclosed confidential immigrant tax information to DHS, per sources.
It opens up HUGE liability for the US government.
Trump is suing the IRS over substantially the same disclosures -- for $10 billion.
🎁 Gift link:
It opens up HUGE liability for the US government.
Trump is suing the IRS over substantially the same disclosures -- for $10 billion.
🎁 Gift link:
IRS improperly disclosed confidential immigrant tax data to DHS
The tax agency only recently discovered it improperly disclosed tax information on thousands of the wrong people to immigration enforcement.
wapo.st
February 11, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Great things are happening under Interim Commissioner of Internal Revenue Scott Bessent.
Never fails
OTOH, if hassett expects a low number I’m revising my forecast up.
February 11, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Never fails
That productivity boom is going great, huh
So the feds ARE NOT considering an mRNA vaccine for the flu, which could save countless lives, but ARE backing research into whether horse dewormer can cure cancer, because the right views vaccines as elite and ivermectin as populist.
Cool.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Cool.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
FDA won’t review Moderna application for first mRNA-based flu vaccine
The decision, which shocked company officials, comes as the FDA says it will take a stricter approach to federal vaccine approvals.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:18 AM
That productivity boom is going great, huh
Reposted by Red braised orc
>working families tax cut
>six thousand dollars exclusively for retired people
lol. lmao. xd.
>six thousand dollars exclusively for retired people
lol. lmao. xd.
February 11, 2026 at 5:06 AM
>working families tax cut
>six thousand dollars exclusively for retired people
lol. lmao. xd.
>six thousand dollars exclusively for retired people
lol. lmao. xd.
Reposted by Red braised orc
